I'm considering making my own whistle and...

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Wed Dec 26, 2001 8:35 pm

I need some basic info on how to make one. I'm wanting to make a low "D", I found a website with the instructions, but I was hoping you guys could answer a few questions for me, if you don't mind.

Can you make a pennywhistle out of copper? If so, what would be the diameter of the copper I'd need for a low "D"? How far apart are the holes supposed to be? How do you make the mouth piece? And last, how hard is it to make a whistle?
Peace,
Sara

Wandering_Whistler · Post by **Wandering_Whistler** » Wed Dec 26, 2001 11:02 pm

On 2001-12-26 21:35, Sara wrote:
Can you make a pennywhistle out of copper? If so, what would be the diameter of the copper I'd need for a low "D"? How far apart are the holes supposed to be? How do you make the mouth piece? And last, how hard is it to make a whistle?
Peace,
Sara

I've made a couple of pennywhistles from recipes found on the internet. Mine was a soprano D, so I can't help you with your low D questions. However, you can make a penny whistle out of copper...While occasionally we get threads on the 'dangers' of copper and aluminum metals for whistles, bear in mind that both metals are used for COOKWARE, and so I think a whistle made of them would be at least as safe.
As for how hard it was to make: Both times I spent a good 6 hours on each instrument, and both times, I spent a good 4 hours on fipples that ended up going in the garbage. I'm sure that with practice and proper tools, it'd get easier, but I'm no whistle-smith and don't aim to become one any time soon.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Thu Dec 27, 2001 6:54 am

Try this site:

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/low-d.htm

Copper can make a pretty nice low D, but it may take you a few tries to get it right. It's worth the effort, and whistlemaking can be a LOT of fun, even if it's often frustrating. It will give you a good insight into how a whistle actually works in any event. Good luck.

Thomas-Hastay · Post by **Thomas-Hastay** » Thu Dec 27, 2001 1:00 pm

Sara

You can try Kim Fulton Bennet's Site
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/661 ... tm">Making a Copper Pennywhistle in D</a>

Double all measurements for a low D whistle. You can have a look here too...
<a href="http://www.mimf.com/link.htm#flutes">Flutes Recorders and Whistles</a> or <a href="http://www.mimf.com/library/whistle_mea ... m">Tommy's silly measurements for a PVC Low Whistle/Flute combo</a>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Thomas-Hastay on 2001-12-27 14:03 ]</font>

Wandering_Whistler · Post by **Wandering_Whistler** » Thu Dec 27, 2001 2:09 pm

On 2001-12-27 14:00, Thomas-Hastay wrote:
Sara

You can try Kim Fulton Bennet's Site
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/661 ... tm">Making a Copper Pennywhistle in D</a>

This is the recipe I used to make my two whistles. Gave me a whole new respect for whistle craftsmen

John Allison · Post by **John Allison** » Thu Dec 27, 2001 4:11 pm

I think <a href="http://www.geocities.com/dwisely/bloodyhand.htm">The Bloody Hand Whistle Plans</a> are by far the best to start out with!

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Thu Dec 27, 2001 7:21 pm

Thanks for all the replies guys! I'm about to go check out all the the links you gave me - thanks again.

Peace,
Sara W.

Dave Parkhurst · Post by **Dave Parkhurst** » Thu Dec 27, 2001 8:04 pm

Can you make a whistle out of copper? Fer crying out loud.... what do you think I do? (just kidding). Ms. Fulton-Bennett's instructions are excellent for a high whistle. And Ryan (a friend) has made a pretty passable low D using 1" diameter copper tubing. I've tried 3/4" but haven't found the magic combo regarding fipple dimensions for it.

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Fri Dec 28, 2001 3:28 pm

I've tried to make a few whistles-strange urge!

The fipple is beyond me.

I've seen that The Whistle Shop is selling
mouthpieces. Has anyone used one to make a
whistle? Their website is does not work well
with my browser- I can't see how to order one.

Sara · Post by **Sara** » Fri Dec 28, 2001 7:18 pm

So, I think I asked this once before, but I forgot - what part of the whistle is the fipple? And from what walt had said, I gather you can't make one yourself? Is that assumption correct?

Peace,
Sara

Walt · Post by **Walt** » Sat Dec 29, 2001 9:29 am

Sara,

Others can seem to make fipples that work, mine work before I put holes in the body of the whistle. That's why I'm interested in mouthpieces.

The fipple is the angled, sharp, piece that the air flows over in the air hole.

My best luck has been with the methods proposed by the "bloody-hand."

Thomas-Hastay · Post by **Thomas-Hastay** » Sat Dec 29, 2001 2:07 pm

Dave Parkhurst

You say you haven't found the "magic" for 3/4" tubing? Take a look here and see if this doesn't ring any bells...

<a href="http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~DL1S-YMGC/n ... tm">Nohkan Flute</a>

The Nohkan(throat flute)has better acoustic coupling that can be applied to wide bore instruments. This can also be used in whistles designs to improve weak tone.

jmssmh · Post by **jmssmh** » Sat Dec 29, 2001 9:17 pm

I have made whistles using "store brought" mouth pieces with sucess. I have made A whistles using Generation Bflat mouthpieces, B whistles using Generation and Feadog C mouthpieces and E whistles using Feadog D and Walton Little Black mouthpieces (from The Whistle Shop). I also tried a couple of times to make a low D using a Howard mouthpiece (also from The Whistle Shop)with fair results the first time but better the 2nd. I want to try again but it is tough to find the right 1 inch tubing.

Joe

Dave Parkhurst · Post by **Dave Parkhurst** » Wed Jan 02, 2002 7:12 pm

Hey Thom,
Are you referring to the 'throat' design used in the Japanese flutes? Looks interesting and I believe Burke uses something like that in some of his composite whistles!

NicoMoreno · Post by **NicoMoreno** » Fri Jan 04, 2002 4:29 pm

Here are instructions that I used for making a Low D whistle out of 3/4 inch copper tubing bought at Canadian Tire.

http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~dhavlena/low-d.htm

I don't know how to post url's so you'll have to copy and paste.

The whistle I made ended up being really good, but a bit quiet. I think if you found alluminum brass or copper tubing at 1 inch diameter, and changed nothing else as far as hole and window placements it would work just fine.

For an aside, I think that 3/4 inch tubing is much to small for the volume and tone required. I also made 3 E and one A and am in the process of making an F. In my opinion the E's work the best for that diameter, the A being a bit too loud ( but otherwise really good!! ) and the F would be good too ( if I hadn't already screwed it up!)

The making of the whistle wasn't very long, but the sahping of the wood plug (ie the fipple) took as much time as the rest of the whistle, because I couldn't find the right diameter of wooden dowling!

Good Luck

Nico